June 15, 2003

There is an argument raging in NBA chat rooms and forums across the country. If you we’re starting a franchise who, would you chose Kobe Bryant or Tracy McGrady? Both arguably the best all around players in the NBA, but if you had to choose one, who would you go with?

I know if I asked my cousin Kim, she’d say Kobe by a landside. If she said it was because he has the heart of a champion, or is ferocious competitor, I couldn’t argue the point. She would choose Kobe because she thinks he’s sexy, sexy, sexy. Nothing actually based on how truly good he is.

Kobe Bryant

Scoring: Obviously both can do this with best of them. Both can take over the game and score the winning basket in the crunch or score 30 with out blinking, but the key factor is Shaquille O’Neal’s presence on the Lakers team and being the first option on the offensive end takes away from Kobe’s potential offensive scoring output. Kobe averages 26 points with Shaq in the paint, image if he was the main man. Tracy is leading the league in scoring, but really hasn’t had a person he’d have to defer to on the offensive end. This is very close but I have to give the advantage to Kobe.

Defense: Both are very rangy guys would can cover any one 1 to 3. Both are very aggressive on the ball defenders who take chances and make things happen on the defensive end. Both will check your team’s best offensive guard or small forward. Tracy at 6’9” poses the biggest intimidation because he has good foot work and quick off of his feet. He has good anticipation skills and can get out in the passing lanes and into fast break situations with the quickness. He’s done this primarily with out an imposing in the paint figure. Kobe has the luxury of having Shaq as a safety net, in which he can gamble and still be in good shape cause of the big fella. I have to give Tracy the advantage here.

Tracy McGrady